Brasil Brasil! The Birth of Modernism Mural

The Royal Academy of Arts’s major Spring exhibition showcases over 130 works by ten influential Brazilian artists from the 1910s to the 1970s. Everyday life in Brazil was a central theme in this modern art movement, with influences drawn from Indigenous identity and the Afro-Brazilian experience. These artists turned inward to explore Brazil’s rich cultural heritage, forging a distinct path for modernism that resonated across South America. 

In collaboration with BUILDHOLLYWOOD and Camden Market, the RA has reimagined two iconic works from the exhibition as a striking public mural in the heart of Camden Market. This large-scale artwork features recreated pieces by Djanira, a self-taught artist of Indigenous descent, and Tarsila do Amaral, an internationally celebrated pioneer of Brazilian Modernism; together, their vibrant works bring the Brazilian modernist movement into the public realm, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the rich visual storytelling the artworks offer. 

Complementing the new mural at Hawley Wharf arch is a display of contemporary artworks on nearby art boards. These feature contributions from five UK-based artists connected to Brazilian culture, offering a modern response to the exhibition’s themes. Together, they highlight the enduring influence of the modernist movement on today’s artistic practices. 

Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism is at the Royal Academy until 21 April 2025 

Mural curated and produced by BUILDHOLLYWOOD  

Artwork credits:  

Tarsila do Amaral, Lake, (detail) 1928. Oil on canvas. Collection of Hecilda and Sérgio Fadel. Photo: Jaime Acioli ©Tarsila do Amaral S/A.  

Djanira da Motta e Silva, Flying a Kite, (detail) 1950. Oil on canvas. Acervo Banco Itaú, Fala, 2011 – Rejane Cantoni and Leonardo Crescenti. Photo: Humberto Pimentel/Itaú Cultural © Instituto Pintora Djanira. Exhibition organised by the Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, London.